Hi all! I’m getting ready to start saving for my mare’s maintenance in 2025 and am debating some things regarding joint injections. We inject her hocks because they are fusing (no arthritis shown on rads, and I am not riding her at the moment.) She has had pro-stride in the past. I originally paid $1200, but now the price for her to get pro-stride again jumped to $1700. Honestly, I just can’t afford that right now on top of everything else I have to pay for. I was looking into Noltrex as an alternative and was wondering what everybody’s experiences with it were? If you could include price and area too, that would be appreciated. I’m in socal, so I know it’s probably going to cost more than average here unfortunately haha.
Thanks!
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These are tough calls to make because it’s hard to predict how a horse will respond to a particular product. Both of these products are very different in how they work. It truly depends on what you’re treating. For fusing hocks, I’d probably do just steroid. The Noltrex is used to cushion a joint so uncertain if there is sufficient joint space. Or if it’s counterintuitive for fusing hocks.
If Prostride has worked well in the past, I’d take that into consideration, although my vets do not think it’s overly helpful for hocks.
Price wise, Noltrex is probably going to run less but it’s more of a question of which product is best for what you are treating. I’d ask your vet their recommendation.
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How old is your horse?
What are you feelings on plain ol’ steroids? Some folks have their qualms about them, but they are pretty darn cheap.
I have two older geldings and we’ve always done steroid injections for their fusing hocks. They are both 18 (going on 19). One I’ve been injecting his hocks since he was 7, although I could usually get by with just once per year since he gets the winter off.
These days, yes, there are lots and lots of other options and if the horse was younger, I would personally look at other options besides steroids. I haven’t needed anything yet on my younger horses but I would love to try Alpha2EQ if I needed something. (I’ve had some friends switch over and they’ve really loved the results.) Now, that really isn’t going to be any cheaper than your current options, but it is another option besides steroids.
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I did Noltrex in 2023 at the advice of my vet on my 25 year old horse. It has made a world of difference and I will never have to do injections again. I used to do yearly hock injections. He does low level dressage up to 3rd level now after a huge jumping career which started in 2006. I attached my bill for a reference and I am also in SoCal.
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Just wondering - why do you say you’ll never have to do injections again? Is it due to your horse’s age (ie. he’ll be retired by the time he’s due next)?
I’ve been using Noltrex for years and find I get about twice as long between injections as with previous IA HA, but it doesn’t last forever. Hocks used to get done once a year, now it’s every 2.
Just curious!
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My vet quoted me $1600 for Arthramid hock injections. Of course I am sure that doesn’t include farm call , sedation etc. Paid the same for steroid/HA injections last May.
We use Arthramid, and it runs me about $300 more than ProStride for hocks.
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My vet didn’t say why. It could be because of his age.
Wow, that is pricey. I paid $1400 total for Noltrex (and Arthramid) for stifles where I believe they used 2 syringes per stifle. I will double check my records.
Prostride was about $1400 as well for stifles.
Hocks are usually cheaper as you don’t need as much product.
ETA- receipt for last Arthramid injections to stifles. SE WI location. I’m sure that makes a huge difference, but I feel like it shouldn’t.
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I’m wondering if that’s uppers and lowers, or maybe it’s a high COL area?
For those who haven’t used it, it’s one dose for both lower hocks. I think uppers are one dose per side. Stifles are one dose (or more, can be 1.5-2) per compartment and each side has 3, although you may not need all 3 done.
I haven’t used ProStride but I’ve seen others be quoted $750-$1000 per dose here in Ontario, so Canadian dollars. I think that might include call fee etc. Noltrex is about $425-$450 per dose not including any other costs like call fee, sedation, etc.
Yea, well everything horse related in SoCal is so pricey. I trust my vet and his knowledge so I was willing to pay it and it has made a world of difference. It is hard to shop around when you already have a positive relationship with one vet. It’s not like other vets will freely give pricing info unless you are a customer.
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